Wall of Clontarf has positive conclusion

Leinster JHC Play-off

By Rónán Mac Lochlainn
– 30 September 2014 02:30 PM

Clontarf will be the county's provincial representatives after overcoming Trinity Gaels by 1-15 to 1-13 in their Junior Hurling Championship Leinster Play-off Final under the lights at St Anne's Park last Thursday.

It marks a historic occasion for the progressive Dublin 3 club who will represent the club in hurling outside Dublin for the first time when they face the Offaly champions in a fixture provisionally arranged for the end of October.

John Wall proved the hero for Clontarf, when with the sides on level terms in injury time, he converted a delightful sideline cut to land the pivotal score of a keenly-contested encounter.

Ronan McDyer added a free later on to confirm the win for a Clontarf side that led by 1-6 to 1-5 at the interval thanks largely to a fine goal from full-forward John Gleeson.

Clontarf, who still harbour promotion ambitions from AHL5, were also superbly served by Willie Comerford, with the full-back maintaining his excellent form from this campaign.

Neil O'Gorman was another player to contribute hugely to the host's success, driving on his team tirelessly while wing-back Craig McConnell also featured prominently as both sides enjoyed sporadic periods of dominance before Wall landed the decisive blow in injury time.

For Trinity Gaels, it was a disappointing end to their campaign, having run finalists Ballyboden St Enda's so close at the quarter-final stage.

HAMPERED

The Donaghmede outfit was severely hampered when having two players dismissed for second bookings as the contest evolved but they continued to battle with goalkeeper Robert Fennelly especially bright between the sticks.

The bulk of their scores came through the economic free-taking of Paul Fennelly and they received a massive boost as Dean Kelly netted for Gaels in the first-half.

However despite the best efforts of Eamonn McInerney and corner-back Peter Coyne, their numerical disadvantage finally took its toll in the closing stages as they succumbed in the cruellest of manners.